Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin

Chairperson – Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT)
Anti-Corruption Reformer | Legal Strategist | Public Integrity Advocate

Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin is a leading figure in Liberia’s justice and anti-corruption reform landscape, widely recognized for his courage, independence, and strategic leadership in public service. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), appointed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai under Executive Order No. 126 and reconfirmed under Executive Order No. 145.

As Chair of AREPT, Cllr. Martin oversees Liberia’s nationwide effort to trace, investigate, and recover public assets wrongfully acquired by individuals and institutions. Under his leadership, the Taskforce has launched over 20 active investigations into high-value corruption cases, identified more than 30 suspicious properties for potential recovery, and strengthened collaboration with international forensic experts, law enforcement, and accountability institutions.

Prior to hi s appointment at AREPT, Cllr. Martin served as Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). During his tenure, he reshaped the Commission’s investigative and prosecutorial architecture, directly contributing to several high-profile cases involving former government officials. He led the development of the TALKAY whistleblower platform, which opened a secure channel for citizens to report corruption and played a critical role in enhancing public accountability.

Notably, his leadership at the LACC successfully facilitated the recovery of misappropriated funds. He also initiated Liberia’s first national policy on whistleblower and witness protection, which remains a foundational pillar in transparency efforts today.

Cllr. Martin previously served as County Attorney for Montserrado County, prosecuting serious criminal and financial crimes on behalf of the Republic of Liberia. He was also elected Vice President of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), where he helped champion regional collaboration on cross-border financial crimes and asset tracing.

He is a graduate of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, Former President of the Maryland Bar Association (MBA) and a respected member of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA). Cllr. Martin is known for his unwavering belief that “corruption is not just illegal — it is immoral, and it robs the future of every Liberian.”

With his integrity, legal acumen, and commitment to justice, he remains a central figure in Liberia’s effort to restore public trust and ensure that stolen wealth is returned to benefit the Liberian people.